For the annual "All Saints Day" services we focused on the text from Hebrews 11:32-12:3. At the end of chapter 11 is a dramatic contrast between the first set of historical descriptions of heroism and exceptional achievements to glorify God, and the second part. The second section described all the terrible suffering and lack of relief or escape from harm suffered by other ancestors faithful to God. So we find one of many testimonials and teaching from the scriptures which directly refutes the often spoken comment by someone troubled: "I know it says the Lord won't give you more than you can handle, but..."
     Not only does the writer remind those first recipients of those who suffered beyond their capacity to survive, but we have the ultimate example in Jesus' execution on the Roman cross.
     The witness of the New Testament book of Hebrews, along with the whole of the Bible, is that while we may suffer extreme harm because of standing for our faith in Jesus, we have two truths we rely on:
1. We have the whole picture of God's awesome rescue and restoration plan fulfilled in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
2. We can live in full assurance God is trustworthy beyond our knowing, and promises a loving hope beyond our earthly existence.
That is Good News for the world.

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The final part of this series called "Why the Church?" focuses on our need for a group to help refine us in the challenging call of Christ Jesus to love well. Not just well, but with life-changing power in all our relationships. We can only be effective in life-giving, Kingdom of God impact, ways when the primary element is at the level of main motivation. Some have called this essential principle of scripture "the primacy of love." 
Looking together at the apostle Paul's first letter to the Christians in ancient Corinth, an anything goes kind of port city, overflowing with changing fads and diverse cultural and religious experiences. 1 Corinthians 13:1-11 zeroes in on sacrificial love as the difference maker in all things, including the substantial acts which might impress onlookers.
The church provides a group of growing friends available to one another to try out this life of personal sacrifice and persistent kindness. How else can we disciples of Jesus hope to truly join him in his loving mission in our world?

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Love is the only motive powerful enough to overcome self-interest.   A higher than self mission of love has the sufficient power to move our heart and therefore our will into attitude of self sacrifice for a higher cause, then decision to take personal action, then carry out the personal cost of the mission.
Jesus chose to restrain his nature during the incarnational experience of becoming a human life. But Jesus did not lose anything - no loss of identity in taking on the form of a human being. He retained the fullness of his divine nature, yet limited his expression of self in order to connect with others, especially the marginalized in his society. 
As the apostle Paul instructs the disciples in Philippi, they and we must have the same attitude as Jesus. A willful emptying of self-importance in order to serve the need for compassion in the lives of those we encounter. Jesus was even willing to risk his public reputation by embracing all persons, regardless of their morality.
How powerful will be our relational witness when we follow the model of Jesus' self-sacrificing humility in love for others.
Because of love, we can dare to insert ourselves into the lives of others and respond to their life questions with humble acceptance and support as we introduce them to our loving Lord who died and was raised for them and all of us. Main text: Philippians 2:1-11.

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     The image of a family farm points to a difference we strive to make real in our church relationships: strong bonds with roots and a clear sense of serving the good of the whole body, with each having an essential purpose and contribution so all works well together - and the family thrives.
     The scene of fully sharing, close relationships described in Act 2:42-47 can be encouraging and unsettling, inspiring and unrealistic or even off-putting. Why? We are so used to looking out for ourselves and those within a close orbit. We are most comfortable with keeping all others at arm's length and formally separated by relational boundaries.
     But then the unexpected happens. Shared, unavoidable tragedy happens to the whole neighborhood. And suddenly all those formalities fall away. We more clearly appreciate our common human experience and bonds. We eat and work alongside folks we previously did not know despite their homes standing within a few steps of ours. Hurricane clean up and sharing of resources and news and encouragement can produce such a state.
     What would it be like if - without tragedy, but also including difficulties - our church sought to build such closeness and ordering of our lives in consideration and friendship with one another? As with the early growing churches, that is attractive and draws onlookers to see what we are about.

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     Despite the appearance of complex conflict and irreconcilable histories and preferences, we find the one way it is all overcome. Jesus makes all the distinctive   persons one in himself through the cross on which he gave his earthly life. The apostle Paul explains to the non-Jewish recipients in ancient Ephesus: "For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us." (Ephesians 2:14  NLT)
     By accepting the rescue work done on our behalf, in joining our lives with Jesus we become part of his family. And I do not have the authority to decide who else gets to be my brother or sister in Christ. By virtue of our mutual connection in Christ, we are one.
     How incredible! I retain all my particular attributes of skin, language, life experiences from my past, and existing human relationships. Yet I become more than all that in adding this greatest sense of identity as part of the whole Body of Christ, the Church.

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Part three in our series focuses on the priortiy of prayer, both as individuals and together as the Body of Christ that is our local church. Pastor Dave uses the phrase “to get back to the original cut” of prayer based on a childhood event told by author Wayne Cordero. The story describes a universal example of not following clear directions from his parent when helping with a major project for the family. In similar fashion, we as the Church of Jesus too commonly lose our way and give importance to activity- doing for God- at the expense of our real priority of spending time with God. How can we know what our path or decision should be if we do not ask our Lord? How can the church follow the Holy Spirit if we do not bother to pay attention to leading? The primary texts are from Luke 19, and Acts 1-2. 

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In Matthew's account (chapter 9, verses 9-13), Jesus follows his confrontation with the religious leaders over authority to forgive sins and heal physical damage and deformity. While all are energized and watching, Jesus then simply approaches an unassuming traitor to family, friends, and neighbors - a tax collector named Matthew. Shockingly for the onlookers, Jesus invites this "known sinner" to enter a special mentored relationship as a student and close friend of Jesus! Jesus is the model for us as the Church, the "Body of Christ" in our world today. We learn to approach all kinds of persons as Jesus does, with loving acceptance motivated by loving mercy. Then through invitation to deep relationship, we support their desire for better for themselves, inside out. We provide the group setting for transformation into Christ's character as we all make this journey of discovery and service to our community.

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How does someone respond to Jesus' call to come to Him to find rest and peace for our weary souls? Upon experiencing the conviction of the truth that only Jesus has the offer of personal relationship that satisfies my sou's need, where do I go? Can you possibly believe the answer is...US?! Yes, as we gather in connected friendship led by His Holy Spirit to become fully formed, devoted disciples, we are charged with the responsibility of receiving the broken and weary and wounded who respond to the invitation of Jesus to find rest. By His grace we are capable of growing into such spiritual maturity and unconditional love that we can carry out such a huge assignment. And do it joyfully - not wanting to be anything else! The text: Matthew 11:25-30

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